2017 Natural Resources Stewards Program Application

See bottom of page for application, but please read below before filling it out. Thank you!

Thank you for your inquiry into the Natural Resources Stewards (NRS) Course and Volunteer Program. The next 12-session course/training begins on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. These full day sessions run from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and will be held in Concord at NH Fish and Game Dept.This hands-on program is open to all who want to learn more about NH’s natural history and resources and are then willing to volunteer on natural resource-related projects or committees. It is also open to college students who take the course for credit. Before you fill out the application...The nature of this course with its hands-on teaching methods does restrict the number of participants to approximately 30 people. With that in mind please consider the following criteria before filling out an application. Then if all sounds good please continue to the preferred online application below.

If you are a current UNH Cooperative Extension volunteer in another one of our programs, we ask that you complete that initial volunteer requirement first.

If you are currently taking college courses, or thinking about it, you may want to take the course for credit through Great Bay Community College (Course #:12914 NATR100 Natural Resources Stewardship - 4 credits)

There is a weekly homework component that includes readings and “hands-on” applied learning projects or activities (i.e. follow the flow of your watershed, creating your own tree id guide, etc.)

Once the course is complete, Steward graduates are required to volunteer40 hours during the following year on your choice of natural resource-related projects or activities. Examples include: invasive species education or projects, community gardens or ecological landscapes, tree inventories, habitat restoration, trail work, water quality monitoring, citizen science, joining your local conservation commission or other natural resources group, working to protect land, delivering educational programs to adults or youth, measuring some of New Hampshire’s biggest trees with the NH Big Tree Program, or any other natural resources project or program that betters the environment!

Program Cost - If accepted into the program after the interview process, that is when we will ask you to pay an upfront cost $295.00 ($100.00 can be refunded to you, when you complete your first 40 hours of volunteering within one year.)There are also scholarships available for those wh need assistance. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.

If you experience any issues with the online application process please contact Wendy Stevens at wendy.stevens@unh.edu or 603-641-6060.

The program is a partnership among UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Division of Forests and Lands, Great Bay Community College, and provides core training for NH Fish and Game’s Wonders of Wildlife Volunteers, and Earth Team Volunteers through the County Conservation Districts and Natural Resources Conservation Districts.